Two-Way Street
Local governments in Wisconsin play a crucial role in the state’s transportation network by maintaining roads and streets for statewide commerce and travel and taking on tasks that include building,...
View ArticleTesting the Waters
Eleven years ago, the Wisconsin Policy Forum published Downstream Accomplishments, Upstream Challenges, the fourth in a series of reports analyzing the finances of metro Milwaukee’s largest local...
View ArticlePeering Down the Pipe
The cost of managing dirty water in sanitary sewers and runoff from storms has increased faster than overall local service costs over the last 20 years, boosted by aging infrastructure, more stringent...
View ArticleAs Other States Go Dry, Wisconsin’s Water Use Plummets
As western states struggle with empty reservoirs and limits on growth imposed by water shortages, Wisconsin seemingly swims in an abundance of fresh water with municipal water supplies facing little...
View ArticleGetting the lead out
Drinking water flows through more than 150,000 lead service lines in Wisconsin, affecting at least 92 communities in the state. Yet due to local, state, and federal efforts to address this public...
View ArticleNatural Partners
From the private beer gardens of the 19th century brewing barons to the modern waterfront views of Lake Park, Milwaukee County residents have long treasured their open spaces and time spent outdoors....
View ArticleEyes on the Road
The quality of paved local roads in Wisconsin has fallen by 6.8% since 2010, leaving them in worse shape than 14 years ago though still reasonably good on average. Local roads around the state are not...
View ArticleTraffic Deaths Surge in Milwaukee County While Falling Elsewhere
Motor vehicle fatalities for Milwaukee County residents, as well as Black and Hispanic Wisconsinites, have been on the rise, with more recent increases due in part to crashes linked to excessive speed....
View ArticleSorting Through the Options
The city of Eau Claire is at a crossroads with regard to its approach to garbage and recycling services. It uses an “open market” model, unique for Wisconsin cities of its size, that requires...
View ArticleWisconsin Outpaces Most States in Recent Dam Failures
A recent dam failure in the central Wisconsin city of Manawa raised broader questions about the condition of the more than 4,000 dams across our state. As extreme rain events have become more frequent...
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